Headrest



E. V.' JENSEN HEADREST Filed June 5, 1952 Sept. 7, 1954 2,688,142

7' INVENTOR.

Em [7 49 9 BY Patented Sept. 7, 1954 U N IT ED S TAT ES T (W FlC E HEADREST Elmer V. Jensen, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application June 5, 1952, Serial No. 291,875

1 Claim.

My-invention relates to head rests or cushions of a type particularly adapted for use by proneposture sleepers.

Numerous people have great difficulty in sleeping other than in a prone position. The conventional feather pillow is highly unsatisfactory for such people, in view of the fact that the face sinks so far into the pillow that one or both nostrils is either closed entirely or sufficiently to greatly impede normal breathing.

The primary object of my invention is the provision of a cushion or pillow for prone-posture sleepers which is extremely comfortable to the user, and which will not in any way restrict normal breathing, either through the nose or mouth.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described which is provided with spaced forehead and chin-supporting cushion elements, and spaced face members which engage opposite sides of the face of the user therebetween, thus preventing the sleepers head from accidentally becoming dislodged from the pillow.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described in which the cushion elements and face-engaging members are in the nature of connected inflatable shells, whereby said device may be inflated to the desired hardness by the user, and alternately may be deflated entirely for the purpose of storage, packing, and the like.

A still further important object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class described, which is relatively inexpensive to produce, which is relatively small in size, and which is so readily transportable that it may be carried from place to place for use by sunbathers and the like.

The above and still further objects of my invention will be come apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claim and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in longitudinal section taken substantially on the line I-I of Fig. 2, illustrating the use of my novel structure by a prone-posture sleeper.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view in transverse section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral I indicates a portable rigid base plate. Rigidly secured to and upstanding from said base plate I are a pair of transverselyextended laterally-spaced generally parallel cushion elements 2 and 3, respectively, the former being positioned adjacent the forward end of the base plate I, and the latter adjacent the rear portion of said base plate I. It will be noted that the cushion 2 has a greater depth and a greater thickness, from front to back, than the cushion 3. A pair of bar-like members 4 connect opposite end portions of said cushions 2 and 3 in spaced relation to the base plate I.

Preferably, and as shown, the cushion elements 2 and 3 and the connecting bar-like members l, are in the nature of inflatable shells formed from rubber-like or plastic sheeting material. One of the cushion elements, shown as being element 2, is provided with valve means 5 for the introduction of air or other fluid under pressure into the connected shells 2, 3 and 4.

Also preferably, and as shown, the cushion element 2, intermediate the face-engaging members 4, is provided with a forwardly-inclined supporting surface 6. Furthermore, as there shown, the cushion 3 is of less transverse width than the cushion 2, and as a result, the bar-like face-engaging members 4 converge rearwardly in general conformity with the shape of the face of the user, whereby greater support is provided.

As shown in Fig. l, the forehead of the user is adapted to come to rest upon the forwardlyinclined supporting face 6 of the cushion 2, whereas the chin of the user is adapted to be supported by the cushion element 3. The mouth, eyes and nose of the user are adapted to be positioned between cushion elements 2 and 3 in spaced relation to the base I. Also, the rearwardlyconverging members 4 gently but firmly engage the face of the user on each side of the mouth, nose and eyes, substantially uniformly throughout their length, so as to maintain the face of the user in a desired set position. The fact that the face-engaging members 4 are spaced from the base plate I assures adequate air at all times being supplied to the mouth or nose of the user.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be obvious that my invention is capable of modification without departure from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined in the appended claim.

What I claim is:

In a device of the class described, a rigid portable base plate, a pair of upstanding transversely extended spaced generally parallel cushion elements on said base plate, one of said cushion 2,688,142 3 4 elements adapted to engage and support the forebers converging in the direction of said chin suphead and. the other thereof the chin of the user, porting element. and a pair of spaced compressible face-engaging bar 1ike members connecting opposite end References Cited in the file of this patent tions of said cushion elements in spaced relation 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS to said base plate, said cushion elements and Number Name Date said bar-like connecting members being in the 2 107 962 sheasby Feb 8 1938 nature of connected inflatable shells, said Chin n supporting cushion element having a lesser trans- FOREIGN PATENTS verse width than the forehead cushion element, 10 Number Country t and said face-engaging bar-like connecting mem- 261,511 Great Britain Nov. 25, 19 6 

